MING 37.07 Monolith

We have always enjoyed watches with a more functional, utilitarian presentation as a palate cleanser – or, as something we can put on and not worry about too much if you’re not sure what the day will bring. This line has previously included the 17.06 Monolith and 18.01 H41 DLC; both with scratch-resistant DLC coatings and tastefully restrained dials. The latest watch to receive this treatment is the 37.07 Monolith.

Although the 37.07 Monolith shares a lot of design elements with and is identical in size and proportions to the 37.07 Mosaic presented during last year’s 5th anniversary releases; it feels like a completely different watch. This is almost entirely down to changing the way the watch interacts with light: whilst the Mosaic was a bright, luminous and reflective watch, those same concave polished surfaces are now matte black and hint at contour rather than reflecting large portions of their surroundings.

Lug tops, bezel and crown are now finely bead blasted and matte; the case sides and back remain brushed to best show the lug contours. This has resulted in a case that wears much thinner as the domed crystal and caseback somewhat disappear, leaving only bezel and case sides clearly defined. Even though dimensions stay identical at 38x10.9mm, the 37.07 Monolith wears visually much larger than dimensions suggest – apparent thickness is more like 7mm or less, which disproportionately emphasizes the large dial opening.

The dial shares only the central gradient mosaic pattern with last year’s anniversary release. It now has a dark grey* Super-LumiNova base layer in the center of a blackened brass dial to match the overall color scheme; on top of this is a printed and partially transparent mosaic. Above the brass dial is a sapphire dial with a gradient printed mask that is opaque black at the edges and composed of graduated transparency triangles at the center, allowing the base luminous material to glow through. The use of a sapphire dial allows for our signature reflective inversion. Legibility is maintained by hands pad-printed with Super-LumiNova X1 and luminous indices on the sapphire dial.

The 37-series cases all minimize bezel and maximize dial; they were conceived in response to customer desire for a larger watch but balanced against demographics of real wrist sizes and wearability. The Monolith visually pushes this the furthest of any of our watches; it is visually large and thin yet supremely comfortable to wear.

Finally, we complete the 37.07 Monolith with something a little different: a new strap by Jean Rousseau in a textured calf material we have not previously used as we feel it complements the central texture of the dial well but stays true to the overall idea of textural subtlety for this watch.

Pricing and deliveries

The MING 37.07 Monolith is priced at CHF 3'500 and is an edition of 250 watches exclusively available at www.ming.watch. Orders open at 1PM GMT on 12 October 2023. A 50% deposit is due at the time of order, with the balance on delivery – expected to begin November 2023.

Technical specifications

MING 37.07

Limited edition of 250 pieces

Case

• Material: 316L stainless steel, DLC coated with a brushed-blasted finish
• Diameter: 38 mm
• Thickness: 10.9 mm
• Lug-to-lug: 44.5 mm
• Domed sapphire crystal front and rear, with double-sided antireflective coating
• Water-resistant to 100 meters
• 20mm lug width

Dial and hands

• Two-part dial with circular brushed, printed and luminous metal base and a gradient sapphire dial with both surfaces printed

Movement

• Sellita for MING SW210.M1
• Manual winding movement
• Anthracite skeletonized bridges with contrast rhodium circular brushing
• Power reserve of ~40h at full wind

Functions/Indications

• Hours and minutes

Strap and buckle

• Leather strap by Jean Rousseau Paris
• 20mm width, curved bars with quick release
• Fitted with 3rd generation tuck buckle with micro adjustment

MSRP

• CHF 3'500

For more information, please visit ming.watch